Our Blog has Moved!

In order to make it more convenient for our readers and customers, we have moved our blog and it is now housed on our website!

There are already new blog posts for you to check out: The Benefits of Oil Skimming and Re-cap of HydroVision (with pictures).

So please go check it out and let us know what you think!

http://www.oilskim.com/blog

Fracking and Injection Wells: How Much Do You Know?

Do you know how many gallons of water are injected into disposal wells each day? I’ll give you a hint, the number is in the billions. In the United States, over 2 billion gallons of brine (water saturated with salt) are injected into Class II disposal wells every day. This water is the flowback fluid from hydraulic fracturing, the water that returns to the surface. Keep reading to learn the basics.

What is a Class II Well?

The EPA has well classifications based on the fluids to be injected, and Class II wells are for fluids associated with natural gas and oil production. There are three types of Class II wells: enhanced recovery wells, hydrocarbon storage wells, and disposal wells. There are approximately 144,000 Class II wells in operation within the United States. The EPA states that as much as 20% of all Class II wells are disposal wells. 

What is a Disposal Well?

What, exactly, is a disposal well? Disposal wells are used to inject fluid into an underground well that is not producing oil and gas. Historically, underground injection has been the primary disposal method used by the natural gas and oil industry for their produced water. These wells allow the companies to return the water produced during fracking to deep underground porous rock formations. Fluids include water, wastewater, brine (salt water), and water mixed with chemicals. Companies began the widespread use of injection of produced water generated during oil production into disposal wells in the 1930’s (EPA page). Discharging flowback fluids into disposal wells requires a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit (NPDES) under the Clean Water Act.

What are the Other Options?

Aside from disposal wells, other disposal options include: recycling for re-use in additional fracking jobs (which conserves water), treatment and discharge to surface waters, and storage in open air pits. One estimate by the EPA is that the water usage for hydraulic fracturing is 70 to 140 billion gallons annually, which is equivalent to the amount of water used in one to two cities of 2.5 million people. With such large water usage, recycling the water for re-use would be a great option over injecting it into disposal wells. 

Oil Skimmers are a great first step in recycling and re-using the flowback fluid by removing any oils and greases. Visit our website to learn more about tube Oil Skimmers. The Model 6V or the Model 5H can help remove waste oil from the surface of water or other liquids.

A Visitor From Egypt Comes to Oil Skimmers!

En route to New York to receive an award, after visiting California for a business conference, our Representative from Egypt was able to spend a few days with us at Oil Skimmers, Inc. It was great to have Ahmed stop by!

Vice President Jim Petrucci stands outside of Oil Skimmers, Inc.'s office in Cleveland, OH with our Representative from Egypt, Ahmed. We proudly flew the Egyptian flag next to our American flag while Ahmed was visiting.

Jim took Ahmed to see the Cleveland Indians play at Progressive field for the first time.

Thanks for visiting, Ahmed!

Check us out on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or if you prefer, find us on Google+!

Oil Skimmers, Inc. Introduces the Oil Recovery and Transfer System

The Model 6V Oil Holding and Distribution Tank System from Oil Skimmers, Inc. has received a make-over! The system has been re-engineered, re-designed, and re-named; it is now called the Oil Recovery and Transfer System (ORTS). The Oil Recovery and Transfer System includes a Model 6V Oil Skimmer, a built-in decanting system, an oil collection tank, adjustable motor controls, and tube guards for the collector tube. It has the same great oil recovery ability as the Oil Holding and Distribution Tank, with a better design and more options.

The ORTS oil skimming system is pre-assembled and pre-wired – the entire system arrives in one skid mounted package ready to operate – no assembly is necessary. This reduces installation time and cost. No additional mounting mechanism is needed, and the Oil Recovery and Transfer System has an efficient design with a small footprint, saving installation costs and space.

The engineering team at Oil Skimmers, Inc., can customize the system to meet the needs of a particular application. There is a wide range of options and modifications available, such as material of construction (aluminum, carbon steel, stainless), size and capacity, transfer pump with controls, collection tank level gauge, winterization package and/or controlled heating.

Visit the Oil Recovery and Transfer System page on our website for more information.

Below are pictures of several different customized units, two with smaller footprints that have a top-mounted motor, and two with a slightly larger footprint because customers wanted a back-mounted motor.

AIST 2012 Day 1 & 2 in Pictures!

As we mentioned in our previous post, this week our Eastern Region Sales Manger Rob Fiorilli and our Western Region Sales Manager Ken Gray have been at the annual Association for Iron and Steel Technology (AIST) show. Since the show is being held in Atlanta, GA, our GA representative, Rob Estill, has also been able to attend the show and share his immense knowledge about oil skimming applications with visitors.

Oil Skimmers, Inc.'s President Mike Gaudiani was able to spend time at the booth yesterday, and had a great time chatting with fellow exhibitors and with attendees!

See some pictures from the show (so far) below! Check back next week for our full review and re-cap of the show. Rob Fiorilli will be providing some insight into his experience at AIST 2012.

Booth #1065 - Oil Skimmers, Inc.

President Mike Gaudiani discusses oil skimming with visitors.

Rob Estill and Ken Gray share their knowledge with visitors  at AIST 2012.

Rob Estill answers questions about the Model 6V Oil Skimmer.

The show started on May 7th and runs through May 10th, so if you are in the Atlanta area please stop by and visit the guys at booth #1065!

Check out our Facebook page or our Twitter for up-to-date information on the show :)

The Secret to Continuous, Efficient Oil Removal in Steel Mills

In anticipation of next week’s annual Association for Iron and Steel Technology (AIST) trade show, we are sharing a case study about a steel mini-mill that solved a waste oil problem with the use of our Oil Skimmers.

NLMK Indiana (formerly Beta Steel) is a steel mini-mill that produces and sells hot-rolled steel in the north central United States and Canada. The plant produces about 700,000 tons a year and employs about 400 people.

NLMK Indiana’s raw materials are scrap metal and chemical additives. The scrap metal is melted and recast into slabs, which ultimately become coils of flat steel that customers purchase to make a variety of durable products. The heat-intensive process uses water to cool in-process materials to specified temperatures. 

During hot strip mill production, tramp oil mixes with the water, and this mixture collects in two basins and a scale pit. Before the water can be cooled and reused, the oil must be removed to keep the cooling towers and other plant equipment running smoothly, and to prevent contamination of the product.

PROBLEM: The plant had employed a company to periodically vacuum the oil out of the water as it sat in the pit and two collection basins — one with a 490,000-gallon capacity and the other one with a 285,000-gallon capacity. But this method did not adequately separate the oil and water, and it didn't provide an option to operate continuously, as the plant does.

SOLUTION:  NLMK Indiana now uses six Oil Skimmers, Inc. oil-recovery systems to remove the tramp oil from the water in the collection basins as well as from a scale pit at the hot-strip mill. In a unique anti-clogging design, the Oil Skimmers have a polyurethane tube that attracts and collects the waste oil/grease as it floats on top of wastewater. The tube passes through a scraper system to remove the oil, which flows into a containment drum.

BENEFITS: The system operates independently and can run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This was a significant improvement over periodic vacuuming, Ehren Plew, Plant Mechanical Engineer, said. The skimmers run whenever needed and for as long as needed.

“They are relatively maintenance-free, and they are certainly trouble-free,” Plew said. “They run 24/7 with no manpower. It would be uneconomical to have a vacuum truck running 24 hours a day.” Additionally, the skimmers are more effective at separation, according to Plew. “The vacuum truck sucks out a lot of water, and these remove just the oil. So there is a lot less waste.”

Jim Petrucci, Vice President of Oil Skimmers, Inc., said the vacuum method of oil removal has its place in the industry, but it’s not the best choice for an ongoing need, such as steel mini-mills. 

"Our system runs continuously. Vacuuming is great when you have a spill, but it doesn’t address continuous build up.” 

NLMK Indiana uses the Model 5H Oil Skimmer and the Model 6V Oil Skimmer. Both are made with internal components of high-strength steel and bronze for durability. External parts are made from abrasive-resistant ceramic. The machine has a lifespan of more than 25 years.


If you have any questions or comments, please share! We love to hear from our readers!

  Above: Model 5H Oil Skimmer side-mounted on a tank. 

To see a video of the Model 5H in operation, visit our Youtube page.

Science and Fracking: What Do We Know?

A very interesting article, Hydraulic Fracturing and Laboratories: What Does it Mean for You? by The Association of Public Health discusses how fracking has been in use for decades, but the science used to test and research the effects it has on our environment is just in the beginning stages. The EPA is conducting research on fracking and its potential impact on groundwater, but the full report is not set to be released until 2014. With an industry growing as quickly has the fracking industry, two years of high-volume operation before we gain a better understanding of potential pitfalls is a large gamble to take.

So far, fracking has been blamed for contaminated drinking water and dangerous emissions (such as methane gas leaked from drilling equipment) in states such as PA, WY, TX, CO, NM, and OH. No comprehensive investigation by state or federal government has been done on how fracking affects human health, but the instances of people (and animals) becoming seriously ill near fracking sites continues to rise. ProPublica also published a more in-depth article, Science Lags as Health Problems Emerge Near Gas Fields, earlier this year. While a bit longer of a read, it is a great resource for information. Beware, it may leave you with more questions than answers!

What is your opinion on fracking and its environmental effects? Do you think with more regulation meant to control contamination and pollution that hydraulic fracturing can be safely used?

Let's start a discussion! Leave your comments below!

If you need more information on what fracking is, read our blog post. There is also a blog post regarding what chemicals are used in fracking fluid.

AIST 2012: Come See the Model 6V Oil Skimmer in Action!

Oil Skimmers, Inc. Will Exhibit at AIST 2012

      The annual Association for Iron and Steel Technology (AIST) trade show will take place on May 7-10 2012 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. AIST focuses on new technologies on the global stage aimed at helping those in the iron and steel industries improve productivity and efficiency. Featuring hundreds of technical presentations plus hundreds of exhibitors and attendees, AIST is a great opportunity to expand your knowledge base about cutting-edge innovations and to network with people in all facets of the iron and steel industries.

      Regional Sales Managers Rob Fiorilli and Ken Gray will be at the Oil Skimmers, Inc. booth during AIST answering any questions regarding Oil Skimmers’ products and how they can be useful in the iron and steel industries. They can also provide details about exactly how these tube Oil Skimmers have helped many companies in these industries. During the show, a Model 6V Oil Skimmer will be in operation for visitors to view and examine. There will also be a power point presentation running that provides information and pictures about our Oil Recovery & Transfer System (ORTS, formerly known as OHDT). Please stop by, take a look and say hello! Booth # 1065!

You can request more information about our Oil Skimmers here.


Is anyone else attending the AIST show in Georgia this year? What are you most looking forward to at the show? What industry are you representing? Leave us a comment and let us know!

What Chemical Additives are Used in Fracturing Fluids and Why

Senthil Kumar had a great question for us regarding our post about Hydraulic Fracturing! 

Senthil Kumar 5 hours ago

can anybody say why a small amount of additives is mixed in fracture fluids.

While the specific chemicals used varies by company and is often dictated by the condition of the well being drilled, there are general types of chemicals used. Below is a chart (original can be found on FracFocus) that explains several types of chemicals, the reason for usage, and what the consequences could be if they are not used.

An additional source of information regarding hydraulic fracturing and the chemicals used in fracking fluids can be found at geology.com. The specific page regarding fracking fluids is here. This site lists several more chemicals that may be used as additives, in addition to the 6 listed above.

FracFocus also provides a "find a well" service; visitors enter their state and county, and the site lists hydraulic fracturing wells in that county (if there are any). Visitors can go down the list of counties to locate wells that are in neighboring areas. Once a visitor finds well locations, they can pick a particular well and view a PDF file of what chemicals were added to the fracking fluids for that particular well.

How safe do you think the chemical additives in fracking fluids are? Since not all of the fluid can be removed from the wells (see our original hydraulic fracturing post for that information), do you think there is a potential for drinking water to be contaminated? Please leave a comment with any thoughts or questions! This is certainly an important topic in our world today.

Want Instant Updates and Pictures?

We've joined Twitter! We'll be sending out updates and pictures from upcoming trade shows (such as AIST 2012 in May!), plus any interesting applications our representatives encounter, or news and contest updates.

Follow us and see what it's all about!

https://twitter.com/#!/OilSkimmersInc

Hydraulic Fracturing: What it is, How it's Regulated, and How Oil Skimmers are Helping with Clean Up.

          Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is a process that recovers natural gas and oil from deep shale formations that contain large amounts of the fuels. Fracking requires the drilling of a well vertically underground, past the deepest aquifer containing fresh groundwater, anywhere from hundreds to thousands of feet below the ground's surface. Steel surface casing is inserted down the well and cement is pumped in to create a barrier between the well bore and groundwater. The vertical drilling is often paired with horizontal drilling, ranging from 1,000-6,000 feet away from the vertical well. Fracturing fluids – a mix of water and sand plus several additives – is then injected at high pressure into the formation to create fissures (a narrow opening or crack). 

When the pumping of the fluids is stopped, the internal pressure of the geologic formation causes most of the injected fluids to rise to the surface; this fluid is called flowback. The sand remains in the fissures and keeps them open, allowing gas and oil to flow. The flowback can be disposed of either by surface discharge where authorized under the Clean Water Act (read more about this act here) or by injection into Class II wells as authorized under the Safe Drinking Water Act (see the EPA page here), or it can be recycled in a closed system for future use. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulates discharge of flowback and requires it to be treated prior to allowing discharge (read our blog post about the NPDES to learn more). This is where Oil Skimmers, Inc., steps in.

Oil Skimmers, Inc. has helped two companies with the use of a Model 5H Oil Skimmer. This Oil Skimmer removes oils and greases from the surface of the flowback. One company wanted to remove oils and greases in order for the flowback to be re-used by a drilling company, while the other needed to meet discharge regulations. Customers have found that by removing the free oils and greases prior to other treatment, the process is more efficient, less costly, and requires less maintenance. 

The EPA is conducting a study of fracking and the potential impact it may have on our drinking water and groundwater, with initial reports to be released sometime during the end of this year and a full report being released in 2014. Read more about the study at the EPA site, on this page.

Learn more about our Oil Skimmers at www.oilskim.com!

Five Myths About Social Media

This brief article, written by Chris Wallace, discusses five important social media myths. For example, no business is too small! Social media sites are full of smaller communities and businesses should connect with the communities related to their business. Word will travel quickly if people (customers) are impressed by your business. It also discusses how people are researching and asking opinions about products more through social media sites than ever before, and what they read affects their buying decisions.

Read the entire article here:
Five Myths About Social Media

Have any of you found success in social media? Have any of you found great difficulties? Share your stories, anecdotes, or opinions in the comment section!

And don't forget, "be smart in the way you engage."

Oil Holding and Distribution Tank from Oil Skimmers, Inc. Helps Steel Manufacturer Solve Waste Oil Problem.

Ohio-based steel company meets local wastewater regulations with the help of a tube-type oil skimmer from Oil Skimmers, Inc.

A large steel manufacturer based in Ohio is now able to meet wastewater regulations with the help of two Model 6V Oil Holding and Distribution Tank Skimmer Systems from Oil Skimmers, Inc. The outdoor wastewater lagoons at the steel plant contained oil from the manufacturing process, storm water run-off, and various types of debris such as leaves and grass. The oil in the lagoon precluded discharging the water into a nearby river, and the debris in the lagoon hindered other oil removal methods that the manufacturer had tried previously. Enter Oil Skimmers, Inc’s Model 6V Oil Holding and Distribution Tank (OHDT) Skimming System.

Oil Skimmers, Inc. modified their standard Model 6V OHDT Units so that the debris could be easily channeled into a separate container, and any small amount of water that is picked up with the oil could be returned back to the lagoon. Since they are kept outdoors, both oil skimming systems were completely winterized, and a pump was installed to pump oil to a larger holding tank when necessary. 

The standard Model 6V OHDT Skimming System includes a mounting system, a decanting tank, and an oil holding tank. The entire system is in one skid mounted package and arrives ready to operate – no assembly is necessary. The engineering team at Oil Skimmers, Inc. can customize the system to meet the needs of a particular application.

 Oil Skimmers, Inc., engineers and manufactures the original Brill^tm tube oil skimmers. The oil recovery systems can be customized and sized to any specification. Durable construction and a rugged design ensure trouble free operation 24/7 in a wide variety of industries and applications worldwide, including steel, mining, power & energy, and food production. These oil removal systems can remove waste oil continuously. The waste oil can then be sold or recycled. Request more information here.

Read the press release at i-newswire: Oil Holding and Distribution Tank from Oil Skimmers, Inc. Helps Steel Manufacturer Solve Waste Oil Problem.

Inbound Marketing: Social Media and the Burgeoning Niche Market

Chris Metinko of Business Wire San Francisco wrote an interesting blog entry suggesting that social media is growing in popularity, but may be shrinking in scope. With the growth in number and use of niche market social media sites like Reddit and Pinterest, it seems that we are moving away from broader, all-inclusive sites such as Facebook and Google+, according to Metinko. Either way, social media is certainly not going anywhere and is a marketing medium all companies should learn to utilize.

Read Chris Metinko's blog post:
Is the Next Big Thing a lot of Smaller Things?

Craig Riley Earns Exemplary Service Award from Oil Skimmers, Inc.

Craig Riley Earns Exemplary Service Award from Oil Skimmers, Inc.

Click the above link to read this press release about Oil Skimmers, Inc. celebrating Craig Riley's 40th Anniversary with the company.

Google Accedes to Providing Do-not-track Button for Users

Google Accedes to Providing Do-not-track Button for Users

This short article has some important information regarding Google's new policy.

QR Codes and Mobile Optimized Websites – Information at your Fingertips

Oil Skimmers, Inc., Joins the Mobile Web Revolution

QR codes and mobile optimized websites – information at your fingertips.

Cleveland, Ohio, February 2012 – In today’s society, if companies want to send users to a website, it is important to have a mobile optimized version. This allows the site to be viewed on a phone screen in a layout conducive to the size of the screen, rather than attempting to view a website created to be viewed on large computer screens. Mobilized sites enable easy navigation, which is important to the growing number of mobile web users who want information at their fingertips and immediate access to content from almost anywhere. Different design and content limitations on mobilized sites allow for a faster mobile web experience and increased usability, which increases user satisfaction.

Oil Skimmers, Inc. has now created a mobile optimized version of their new website and has also begun using a QR code on all print advertisements. Vice President Jim Petrucci believes this will be useful for plant managers and customers who may want to look at the site but do not work in an office setting with constant computer access. It can also be useful at trade shows and for representatives when they are visiting potential customers. Quick Response Codes (QR Codes) are two-dimensional barcodes that are readable by smart phones and hold more information than the traditional one-dimensional barcodes used by retail stores. The United States uses these codes for convenience-oriented applications aimed at mobile phone users – called mobile tagging. QR Codes can appear on signs, business cards, brochures, product packaging, name tags at trade shows, even in magazines. One-fifth of Americans are now accessing the mobile web daily, according to results from a 2009 Pew Research Center Report. This demonstrates a growth of 73% from December 2007. In a time when mobile web usage is steadily increasing each year, companies cannot afford to NOT mobilize their websites and take part in the QR Code movement.

Oil Skimmers, Inc. engineers and manufactures tube oil skimmers. Oil sticks to the outside of a specially formulated, closed-loop collector tube that snakes over and around debris. Designed with non-clogging, long-lasting components, the Model 6V and Model 5H units run unattended 24 hours a day, year-round, and are the most dependable, cost-effective and uncomplicated solutions for removing waste oil from water.  

Contact:

Jim Petrucci
Website: www.oilskim.com
Phone: 800.200.4603
Fax: 440.582.2759
E-mail: Jim@oilskim.com.

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